What Is ISES (ises.org)?

ISES is the International Solar Energy Society, a global membership organization that describes itself as "the global voice for renewable energy." Its website, ises.org, is the public face of that mission: a place to follow solar energy research, read news and commentary, learn about conferences and webinars, and join a worldwide community of individuals and institutions working toward a 100% renewable energy future. If you are a researcher, industry professional, student, or organization looking for a credible solar energy hub rather than a product vendor, ises.org is the site to check.

What the organization is

The homepage positions ISES around a single clear goal: driving the transition to a 100% renewable energy future. The organization frames itself as an international society, not a commercial platform, and its public identity centers on advocacy, knowledge sharing, and convening people across countries and sectors.

Two things follow from that positioning:

• It is membership-based. The site invites individuals and organizations to "Join Our Global Solar Community," and it maintains a dedicated section for Corporate and Institution Members as well as Partners.
• It is research- and policy-oriented. The content mix leans toward publications, conference planning, and commentary on the energy transition rather than consumer products or installation services.

What you will find on the site

The site organizes its public content into a few recurring streams. Based on the homepage, these include:

A few observations from the homepage content are worth noting for anyone deciding whether to rely on the site:

• The journal is a core asset. Multiple Solar Energy volume announcements appear in the latest news feed, which suggests the journal is one of the society's main ongoing outputs.
• The pv magazine column is a regular channel. The columns are dated monthly (August, September, and October 2026 on the homepage), so readers can expect recurring commentary rather than one-off posts.
• Conference planning is active. EuroSun 2026 is promoted, and the EuroSun 2028 expression-of-interest process is reported as closed, indicating a multi-year event cycle run with partners such as the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme.

Who it is for

The site's framing points to several distinct audiences:

• Researchers and academics who want journal content and conference participation.
• Industry and institutions interested in corporate or institutional membership and partner visibility.
• Students and early-career professionals looking for a global community and event access.
• Policymakers and commentators following the society's positions on electrification, storage, and solar deployment.

If your goal is to buy solar panels, compare installers, or get a quote, ises.org is not built for that. It is a knowledge and community hub.

How to use the site

1. Start with Latest News to see current publications, columns, and event updates. This is the fastest way to understand what the society is actively working on.
2. Check the Publications and journal listings if you need solar energy research. The Solar Energy journal volumes are announced as they are released.
3. Review the Events section for conferences such as EuroSun and for webinar announcements.
4. Look at membership options if you want to join the community. The site distinguishes individual membership from Corporate and Institution Members and Partners.
5. Use the login area if you are already a member; the homepage includes a User login entry point.

A practical note: the homepage shows a search function, so if you are looking for a specific topic, journal issue, or past column, searching is likely faster than browsing the news feed.

What to keep in mind

• Membership terms and pricing are not stated on the homepage. The site invites you to become a member but does not display costs or detailed benefits in the material available, so check the membership pages directly before committing.
• Some content sits behind a login. The presence of a user login suggests member-only areas, though the homepage does not specify what is restricted.
• Dates on the site run into 2026. The news items are dated August through October 2026, so treat the feed as a current snapshot rather than an archive of past years.
• The society is broad, not niche. Its scope spans research, policy commentary, storage, electrification, and regional deployment, so expect a wide range of topics rather than deep coverage of one technology.

In short, ises.org is the online home of the International Solar Energy Society: a membership organization and publishing hub for the global solar and renewable energy community. It is most useful if you want research, event access, or community membership, and least useful if you are shopping for solar products or services.